Author: Lily Angelle

ACL Artists Nominated for 2026 GRAMMY Awards

Post author By Lily Angelle
Post date November 7, 2025

The 2026 GRAMMY OFFICIAL nominations have been announced, and Austin City Limits congratulates all the amazing nominees populating 95 categories.

We’d like to give special recognition to the nominees who have appeared on Austin City Limits. We’re thrilled to showcase many of this year’s nominees during our current Season 51. Stay tuned for new episodes premiering weekly on PBS.

R&B innovator Leon Thomas leads the pack as one of this year’s top nominees with an impressive six nominations, including the prestigious Album of the Year and Best New Artist. The chart-topping artist recently taped a sensational ACL debut featuring songs from his Grammy-nominated album Mutt. ACL is thrilled to spotlight the breakout star in a full-hour performance airing early next year as the Season 51 finale.

Leon Thomas on Austin City Limits, 2025. Photo by Scott Newton.

Congratulations to Country star Kelsea Ballerini, nominated for Best Contemporary Country Album for Patterns. Ballerini shines in an irresistible ACL hour premiering November 15, showcasing highlights from the acclaimed album. Country standout CAM, who shares the episode, also earned a Grammy nomination for her latest release A Different Light, beautifully showcased in her forthcoming ACL debut.

A big shoutout to Jon Batiste, a triple 2026 Grammy nominee for his latest album Big Money, including a nod for Best Americana Album and Best Americana Song for the title track. Already a 7x Grammy Award-winner, Batiste made his ACL debut in 2021 and recently returned for an unforgettable full-hour performance spotlighting Big Money highlights, set to air in December.

Charley Crockett on Austin City Limits, 2025. Photo by Scott Newton.

FINNEAS on Austin City Limits — Charley Crockett on Austin City Limits, 2025. Photo by Scott Newton.

10x Grammy-winning artist FINNEAS, who opened Season 51 with a revelatory solo ACL debut, adds two more nominations to his growing collection—recognized for his collaboration on Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower” in the top categories of Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

ACL favorite and country maverick Charley Crockett, who first graced the ACL stage in 2021 and returned for a powerhouse Season 51 set, earned a Best Traditional Country Album nomination for Dollar A Day.

Samara Joy on Austin City Limits. Photo by Scott Newton.

Jazz standout Samara Joy, who captured Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammys and holds five Grammy Awards, continues her remarkable rise with two new nominations, including Best Jazz Vocal Album for Portrait, which the 25-year-old vocalist showcased in a stunning recent ACL hour, and Best Jazz Vocal Performance.

ACL also celebrates breakout band The Marías, nominated for Best New Artist. Their hypnotic full-hour Season 51 debut has become one of the season’s most-watched and beloved episodes—a total vibe.

And last but not least, a special salute to legendary 91-year-old bluesman Bobby Rush, nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album. The Blues Hall of Famer is living proof the blues is alive and well, delivering a swaggering, joy-filled performance in this week’s ACL episode, Austin City Limits Celebrates Antone’s and the Blues, honoring the genre alongside Austin’s iconic “Home of the Blues,” Antone’s.

From ACL executive producer Terry Lickona – “We’re so proud to have so many great Grammy nominees on the ACL stage this year! After 50 years, it’s exciting to discover and share a new generation of talent with music fans everywhere. And a big shout-out to Bobby Rush, still going strong at 91!”

Bobby Rush on ACL TV, 2025. Photo by Scott Newton.

A special shoutout to other ACL alumni spanning our 51-year legacy who earned nominations: Billie Eilish (Record of the Year, Song of the Year), Kendrick Lamar (Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Rap Performance, Best Melodic Rap Performance,Best Rap Album ), Dan Auerbach (Producer of the Year), Robert Glasper (Best Alternative Jazz Album), Brandi Carlile (alongside Elton John for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Best Song Written for Visual Media), Miranda Lambert And Chris Stapleton (Best Country Duo/Group Performance, Best Country Song), Margot Price (alongside Tyler Childers for Best Country Duo/Group Performance,Best Traditional Country Album ), George Strait And Chris Stapleton (Best Country Duo/Group Performance), Reba McEntire And Miranda Lambert (with Lainey Wilson for Best Country Duo/Group Performance), Lukas Nelson (Best Traditional Country Album), our good friend Willie Nelson (Best Traditional Country Album, Best Americana Album), Jelly Roll (Best Contemporary Country Album), Miranda Lambert (Best Contemporary Country Album), Jason Isbell (Best American Roots Performance, Best American Roots Song, Best Folk Album), Alison Krauss & Union Station (Best American Roots Performance,Best Bluegrass Album), Mavis Staples (Best American Roots Performance, Best Americana Performance), Sierra Hull (Best Americana Performance,Best American Roots Song, Best Bluegrass Album,Best Instrumental Composition), Molly Tuttle (Best Americana Performance, Best Americana Album), Sarah Jarosz (Best American Roots Song), Billy Strings (Best Bluegrass Album), Buddy Guy (Best Traditional Blues Album), Patti Griffin (Best Folk Album), Carín León (Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)), Duran Duran (Best Recording Package), Wilco (Best Album Notes), Japanese Breakfast (Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical), Jacob Collier (Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals).

Willie Nelson on Austin City Limits, Season 50.

A full list of all GRAMMY nominees can be found here – good luck to all. Co-produced by ACL executive producer Terry Lickona, the 2026 Annual GRAMMY Awards will telecast on Sunday, February 1, 2026 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Tags Grammy Awards, Season 51

Live Stream News

Marcus King Band’s ACL TV Debut to Livestream For Fans Worldwide

Post author By Lily Angelle
Post date October 30, 2025

AUSTIN, TX—October 30, 2025–Austin City Limits (ACL) is thrilled to announce that one of music’s most electrifying live acts, the Marcus King Band, will make their long-awaited debut on the legendary ACL stage. The full-set taping will be livestreamed worldwide on Tuesday, November 4, offering fans everywhere the chance to experience the acclaimed band in a powerhouse performance direct from Austin, Texas.

Fans around the world can tune in live and free on November 4 at YouTube.com/AustinCityLimitsTV beginning promptly at 9pm ET/8pm CT. The livestream will feature the complete performance as it happens, available exclusively in real time. A broadcast version of the show will premiere on PBS early next year and stream on the PBS App and at pbs.org/austincitylimits as part of Austin City Limits acclaimed Season 51.

The Marcus King Band’s set will feature highlights from their highly anticipated new album, Darling Blue, alongside the fan favorites that have made them one of the most dynamic touring acts in modern music.

With Darling Blue, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and guitar virtuoso Marcus King reunites with his longtime band for their first studio album together since 2018’s Carolina Confessions. Inspired by the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains of his home state of South Carolina, the record blends country, folk, psychedelic rock, and Motown-era R&B while delving into themes of addiction, healing, and resilience.

Recorded at the storied Capricorn Studios in Macon, Georgia, Darling Blue features collaborations with Billy Strings, Noah Cyrus, Jesse Welles, Jamey Johnson and Kaitlin Butts, along with co-writes from Lainey Wilson and the band Midland. Tracks like “Carolina Honey,” “Heartlands” and “Honky Tonk Hell” pay tribute to King’s Greenville roots and deep connection to his home state.

Released this fall on American Records/Republic Records, Darling Blue captures the spirit and soulful energy of the band’s live performances. “It truly felt like home,” King shares. “My band and I were just working out songs to perform live but ended up creating a piece of recorded music for our fans. More than anything I’ve done before, this album felt like a real concerted effort to make music for ourselves—for the love of creating and being as honest as we possibly can. We put everything we had into making something we love, and we have faith the audience will feel that too.”

Following a string of critically acclaimed releases with the Marcus King Band, King launched his solo career with the Grammy-nominated El Dorado (2020), followed by Young Blood (2022) and Mood Swings (2024). He continues to tour internationally throughout 2025, sharing stages with Eric Church, Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson.

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Grammy-Winner Leon Thomas to Make Austin City Limits Debut; Performance to Livestream for Fans

Post author By Lily Angelle
Post date October 29, 2025

AUSTIN, TX—October 29, 2025–Austin City Limits (ACL) is thrilled to announce a worldwide livestream featuring Grammy-winning songwriter and chart-topping R&B innovator Leon Thomas in his full-set ACL debut on Sunday, November 2. Thomas takes the ACL stage riding a wave of acclaim, with his smash hit “Mutt” landing in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100 this week and just days after dropping the brand-new EP PHOLKS. Billboard raves, “PHOLKS deepens and expands the now-signature blend of funk, soul and classic rock that Thomas honed across MUTT.”

The breakout artist has dominated 2025, earning Best New Artist at the BET Awards, Billboard’s Breakthrough of the Year Award, and his first two MTV Video Music Award nominations. Thomas also launches his headlining Mutts Don’t Heel Tour on October 30th with sold-out dates across the U.S., Europe and Australia.

Fans around the world can experience this highly anticipated ACL taping live in its entirety from the iconic Austin City Limits stage in Austin, Texas. The performance will stream free and live at YouTube.com/AustinCityLimitsTV and YouTube.com/leonthomasmusic, beginning promptly at 9pm ET/8pm CT on Sunday, November 2. The hour-long stream will be available only in real time. The broadcast episode of this performance will air as a full hour on PBS early next year and stream nationwide at pbs.org/austincitylimits and on the PBS App as part of Austin City Limits’ acclaimed Season 51.

Thomas’ 2024 breakout sophomore album MUTT, fueled by live instrumentation and dizzying riffs, was named Billboard’s No. 1 R&B Album of the Year. Its Platinum-certified title track topped multiple charts and surpassed more than 315 million streams, while standout singles “Far Fetched” and “Vibes Don’t Lie” solidified his status as a defining voice in modern R&B.

In 2025, Thomas expanded his sonic universe with MUTT Deluxe: HEEL, a genre-bending extension featuring guest spots from Kehlani, Big Sean, and Halle. Exploring themes of singlehood, connection, and self-exposure with tightly crafted compositions and distinct creative clarity, the project led to standout performances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and a viral NPR Tiny Desk set.

Taping Pass Giveaway: Marcus King Band

Post author By Lily Angelle
Post date October 27, 2025

*UPDATE: GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED* Austin City Limits will tape a performance by Marcus King Band on Tuesday, November 4th at 8 pm at ACL Live at The Moody Theater (310 W. 2nd Street, Willie Nelson Blvd). Austin City Limits Taping Giveaways are presented by AXS Events.

Winners will be chosen at random and a photo ID will be required to pick up tickets. Winners will be notified via email. Duplicate entries for a single taping will be automatically voided. Tickets are not transferable and will be voided if sold. Standing may be required. No photography, recording or cell phone use in the studio. No cameras, computers or recording devices allowed in the venue. While we do our best to accommodate all winners, we cannot guarantee admission. These passes are based on space available therefore you will be filling in spots available on the floor or balcony depending on the tickets that are available when you arrive.

With Darling Blue, Grammy-nominated Marcus King reunites with his longtime live band for their first recorded album together since 2018’s Carolina Confessions. Inspired heavily by the Blue Ridge Mountains in his home state of South Carolina, the new album incorporates elements of country, folk, psychedelic rock and Motown-era R&B and continues the conversation on King’s experience with addiction and depression. Recorded at the legendary Capricorn Studios in Macon, Georgia, the album features collaborations with Billy Strings, Noah Cyrus, Jesse Welles, Jamey Johnson and Kaitlin Butts, with co-writes from the band Midland and Lainey Wilson. Tracks like “Carolina Honey,” “Heartlands” and “Honky Tonk Hell” pay homage to King’s Greenville roots and deep appreciation for his home state. Set for release September 26 on American Records/Republic Records, Darling Blue captures the spirit of a live band performance. “It truly felt like home,” King shares. “My band and I were just working out songs to perform live but ended up creating a piece of recorded music for our fans. More than anything I’ve done before, this album felt like a real concerted effort to make music for myself, and for ourselves as a band—creating for the love of creating and being as honest as we possibly can. We put everything we had into making something that we love and we have faith that the audience will feel that and love it too.” Following a successful run of critically acclaimed releases with the Marcus King Band, the singer and guitar phenom made his solo debut with the Grammy-nominated El Dorado in 2020, followed by Young Blood (2022) and Mood Swings (2024). This summer saw the return of King’s beloved Marcus King Band Family Reunion festival in Charleston, SC. King continues to tour internationally throughout 2025, sharing stages with Eric Church, Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson.

For entry to Austin City Limits tapings, you agree to abide by the Taping Health & Safety Protocols based on the current COVID-19 Community Risk Stage in effect at the time of the event. By attending the ACL tapings, you agree to the Terms & Conditions.

News Ticket Giveaway

Taping Pass Giveaway: Leon Thomas

Post author By Lily Angelle
Post date October 24, 2025

*UPDATE: GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED* Austin City Limits will tape a performance by Leon Thomas on Sunday, November 2 at 8 pm at ACL Live at The Moody Theater (310 W. 2nd Street, Willie Nelson Blvd). Austin City Limits Taping Giveaways are presented by AXS Events.

Recently dubbed “R&B’s hottest ‘rock star’” by Billboard, Leon Thomas is a Grammy-winning artist, producer, and actor from Brooklyn who seamlessly fuses R&B, soul, and rock with fearless creativity. After signing to Ty Dolla $ign’s EZMNY Records in 2022, he made his debut with Electric Dusk (2023), featuring collaborations with Victoria Monét and Benny the Butcher, then earned a 2024 Grammy for his work on SZA’s smash single “Snooze.” His 2024 breakout sophomore release MUTT, fueled by live instrumentation and dizzying riffs, was named Billboard’s No. 1 R&B Album of the Year, with its Platinum-certified title track topping multiple charts and amassing more than 315 million streams. MUTT and its standout singles “Far Fetched” and “Vibes Don’t Lie” cemented his status as a rising force in modern R&B. In 2025, Thomas expanded his sonic universe with MUTT Deluxe: HEEL, a genre-bending extension featuring guest spots from Kehlani, Big Sean, and Halle. Exploring themes of singlehood, connection, and self-exposure with tightly crafted compositions and distinct creative clarity, the project brought performances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and a viral NPR Tiny Desk set. Honored as Billboard’s Chartbreaker and MTV PUSH’s Artist of the Month, Thomas capped off a banner year with a BET Award for Best New Artist and a sold-out MUTTS DON’T HEEL World Tour.

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Queens of the Stone Age to Return to ACL TV for Final Season 51 Taping

Post author By Lily Angelle
Post date October 22, 2025

Austin City Limits is proud to announce the final taping of Season 51: rock superstars Queens of the Stone Age return for the first time in over a decade on November 18. The celebrated band takes the ACL stage to showcase their remarkable new work, Alive in the Catacombs—conceived and recorded in the ancient tombs beneath Paris—for what promises to be one of the most unique and unforgettable tapings in ACL’s 50-plus-year history.

Queens of the Stone Age—Josh Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore—continue to defy boundaries and expectations. Three decades into a groundbreaking career, the band ventured underground for Alive in the Catacombs, an innovative album-and-film pairing that reimagines their famously heavy catalog in an otherworldly setting. Recorded beneath Paris in centuries-old crypts, the project serves as both séance and statement—summoning everything that has made QOTSA a singular force in modern rock.

In a musical landscape dominated by conformity and speed, QOTSA persist in carving out space for nuance, mystery, and soul. That creative balance has powered the band’s music since their beloved 1998 self-titled debut—a breath of fresh rock’n’roll air at a time when pop and boy bands ruled the airwaves. Their trailblazing discography includes the acclaimed Rated R (2000), the Grammy-nominated Songs for the Deaf (2003), the chart-topping …Like Clockwork (2013), the Mark Ronson-produced Villains (2017) and the international No. 1 In Times New Roman (2023). Known for their electrifying live performances, QOTSA have long held a reputation as one of the most powerhouse bands on earth.

Frontman Josh Homme—formerly the lead guitarist in Palm Springs stoner-rock pioneers Kyuss—has also fueled numerous acclaimed side projects, including The Desert Sessions, Eagles of Death Metal and Them Crooked Vultures (with Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones).

QOTSA are currently on a limited run of tour dates in support of Alive in the Catacombs, bringing that immersive Paris experience to audiences for the first time. “If you’re ever going to be haunted, surrounded by several million dead people is the place,” Homme reflects. “I’ve never felt so welcome in my life.”

ACL is thrilled to welcome Queens of the Stone Age back to the stage for this intimate and historic performance. Details on how to win free passes will be announced one week prior to the taping—follow ACLTV on IG and Facebook and X for updates. The hourlong broadcast episode will air and stream early next year on PBS as the finale of Austin City Limits’ current Season 51. Stream previous seasons online or on your connected TV with the free PBS App.